Mining machine



J. F. JOY

MINING MACHINE Aug. .22, i939.

Filed oct. 21, 1 935 3 sheets-sheet 1 RCAP zz III., l

J. F. JOY

MINING MACHINE Aug. 22, 1939.

Filed Oct. 21, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TL M Aug. 22, 1939. l L F JOY 2,170,331

MINING MACHINE Filed Oct, 2l, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l'g. f i O f1 37 36' M733 37' o 35 S I 35o O .n A n JZ Q34; 30 Q0 @l y 1 y E 43 i 5 f i 4 J0 Z 7 69 5 f1 z 4742349 50 46 ,y MQ

Patented Aug. 22, 1939 PATENT OFFICE MINING MACHINE Joseph F. Joy, Claremont, N. vH., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 21, 1935, Serial No. 45,901

l Claims.

This invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly has reference to improvements in coal mining machines of the flexibly fed, room and pillar, floor cutter type.

An object of this invention is to provide an impro-ved coal mining machine extremely compact in design and relatively light and inexpensive in construction. Another object is to provide an improved coal mining machine of the flexibly fed, floor cutter type having improved means for feeding and guiding the machine rduring the cutting operation. A further object is to provide an improved coal mining machine of the so-called hand-held type having improved manual means for guiding the machine during the cutting operation and for maneuvering the machine with respect to the work. A still further object is to provide an improved coal mining machine of the flexibly fed, room and pillar oor cutter type having improved feeding means and a manual guiding handle whereby the operator may control manually the angular position of the machine with respect to the coal face during the cutting operation. A further object is to provide improved transport means in the form of floor engaging wheels associated with the manual guiding means for transporting the machine about the mine. These and other objects Will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the illustrative embodiment of the improved mining machine. i

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of Fig. l with the top cover plate removed, and parts broken away in section to illustrate structural details.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the control lever of the planetary feed transmission means.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 'I-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional View taken on line 8-8 of Fig. l, showing the cutter chain clutch control lever.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the machine in cutting position in the mine.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention there is shown a coal mining machine of the flexibly fed, room and pillar, oor cutter type comprising a frame I having a plane bottom surface' 2 adapted to rest upon andslide in any direction over the mine floor. The forward portion of the machine frame I has an integral hanger 3 adjustably supporting a block d carrying an elongated plane cutter bar 5 of the "thin-k'erf type. Mounted on the margin of the cutter bar for circulation thereabout is an endless cutter chain 6 driven by a chain sprocket I located within a longitudinal chamber 8 yformed within the bottom portion of the machine frame. In this instance, the bottom of the frame underlying the chain sprocket and cutter bar is cut-away at 9 to permit access to the chain sprocket and its drive, when the machine is turned on its side. The chamber 8 receives the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the cutter chain and opens through the rear end of the machine frame for discharging the cuttings from the machine. Supported on the upper portion of the forward end wall of the machine frame in a position overhanging the rearward portion of the cutter bar is a motor IIB-having its power shaft horizontally disposed and extending longitudinally of the machine. Fixed to the rear end of the motor power shaft is a spur pinion II meshing with a large spur gear I 2 journaled within a suitable bearing bracket I3 supported'within the machine frame. The gear I2 is keyed to a horizontal longitudinal shaft I4 having formed integral therewith a bevel gear-I5 meshi-ng with a horizontal bevel gear I6 journaled at I'I on a vvertical drive shaft I8. The upper end of the shaft I8 is journaled in a bearing I8 supported within the machine frame and the lower end thereof is journaled within a bearing 20 supported Within a detachable plate 2I. Keyed to the lower end of the shaft I8 is the cutter chain drive sprocket 'I. The bevel gear I6 is connectible to the shaft I8 by means of a sliding clutch 22 splined to the shaft and having a clutch ship-per 23 operated by a lever 24 conveniently located at the advancing side of the machine frame. It will thus be seen that when the clutch 22 is connected and the motor 9 is running, the cutter chain may be rapidly circulated about the margin of the cut- 50 ter bar through the gearing II, I2, I5 and I6, drive shaft I8 and chain sprocket 1.

Now referring to the machine feeding means, it will be noted that keyed to the rear of the horizontal shaft I4 is a spur gear 25 meshing with spur planet gears 26 of a planetary variable speed device, the planet gears journaled on studs 21 supported on a rotatable carrier member 28. This carrier member is journaled in a bearing 29 supported by the rearward extremity of the horizontal shaft I4 and has formed integral therewith a coaxial longitudinal shaft 38 journaled at its rear end within a bearing 3| supported within the rear end wall of the machine frame. The planet gears 26 mesh with an internal gear 32 formed on a rotatable reaction member 33 journaled on a bearing 34 supported by the longitudinal shaft 36. Encircling the reaction member 33 is a brake band 35 operated by a crank 36 fixed to a longitudinal operating shaft 31 having an operating lever 38. By varying the application of the brake band 35 of the planetary device, the drive therethrough may be varied as desired, in a well known manner. Secured to the longitudinal shaft 3D is a worm 46 meshing with a worm wheel 4I having its hub keyed to a vertical shaft 42. This shaft is journaled in spaced bearings 43, 43 within the machine frame and has secured to its lower extremity a spur gear 44 meshing with a spur gear 45 secured to a horizontal feed drum 46. This feed drum is arranged within the rearward portion of the cutting-receiving-chamber 8 within the bottom of the machine frame and .is journaled on spaced bearing sleeves 41 supported by an eccentric portion 48 of a vertical shaft 48 rotatably mounted in bearings 56 within the machine frame. Wound upon this drum is. a feed cable 5I which extends from the drum forwardly through the chamber 8 around a front guide sheave 52 journaled on a vertical axis .at the advancing front corner of the machine frame. Means is provided for rotating the shaft 4.9 to cause the eccentric portion thereof to move the gear 45 out of mesh from the gear 44 to interrupt drum drive, comprising a spur gear 54 keyed to the upper end of the shaft 49 and meshing with a spur gear 55 keyed to the lower. end of a vertical operating shaft 56. Fixed to the upper end of the shaft 56 at the top ofthe machine frame is a conveniently located operating lever 57. It will thus be seen that when the shaft 49 is rotated through the gearing 55, 54, the eccentric portion 48 of the shaft is rotated therewith, thereby shifting the position of the drum axis laterally to disconnect the drum drive.

The improved machine guiding and transporting means comprises an elongated handle 66 Vprojecting rearwardly from the machine frame and having a grasping portion 6l and a tubular shank 62 fitted within a socket 63 formed within a baillike member 64. The handle shank is rotatable into different positions within the socket 63 as indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 1, and may be locked in its different positions by a locking pin 65 passing through registering apertures formed in the bail and handle shank. The side arms 66 of the bail 64 straddle the sides of the rearward portion of the machine frame and are pivotally connected at 67 on horizontal pivot pins supported within the side walls of the machine frame. Journaled on shafts 68 supported by the bail arms 66 at the opposite sides of the machine are supporting Wheels 69 adapted to roll over the mine floor during transport of the machine about the mine. Arranged beneath the bail arms and projecting laterally from the sides of the machine are stop lugs T8 with which the bail arms are engageable when the machine is in its raised transport position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the operator grasps the handle 60 and swings the Ibail arms downwardly, the supporting Wheels 69 are brought into engagement with the mine floor, and upon continued downward swinging movement of the handle, the machine frame is raised completely from the mine floor until the bail arms engage the stop lugs '56. The operator may then drag the machine, while supported on the supporting wheel 69, bodily about the mine. When the machine is supported for sliding movement on the mine iioor, the sup porting wheels 69 are in their raised position, as indicated in full lines in Fig. l, and when the handle is in this position, the operator may, by means of the handle, manually swing the machine horizontally on its bottom surface into different angular positions.

The general mode of operation` of the improved mining machine will be clearly apparent from the description given. During the transverse cutting operation, the feed cable 5l is extended from the feed drum 46 around the front guide sheave 52 and laterally from the machine to a suitable an- Chor A located at the right hand rib of the room. During this cutting operation, the cutter chain drive clutch 22 is co-nnected so that the cutter chain is rapidly circulated about the margin of the cutter bar by the gearing l l, i2, I5, i6 driven by the motor i8. The operator then swings the lever 51 to rotate the drum shaft eccentric 48 to bring the teeth of the spur gear 45 into driving relation with the spur gear 44, and when the brake band 35 is applied to hold the reaction member 33 stationary, the feed drum may be driven in winding direction from the motor I6 through vgearing Il, l2, shaft i4, spur gear 25, planet gears 26, the latter rolling around the relatively stationary internal gear 32 as a trackway, carrier 28, shaft 3i), worm gearing 46, 4|, shaft 42 and spur gearing 44, 45, and as the feed cable is wound in by the feed drum, the machine is advanced laterally across the coal face toward the anchor A at the rib. By varylng the application of the brake band, the rate of feed may of course be varied at will. During the transverse cutting operation, the operator grasps the grasping portion of the handle 68 to control the angular position of the machine with respect to the coal face, and if desired may, by means of the handle, swing the machine horizontally either forwardly or rearwardly into relatively inclined positions with respect to the coal face, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9. 'Upon the completion of the transverse cutting operation, the position of the handle may be reversed within its socket with respect to the bail, that is, turned from the full line position indicated in Fig. 1 to the opposite dotted line positionv in that figure, and upon swinging downwardly of the lever 4the machine is moved into its elevated position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. The operator may then utilize the handle and supporting wheels 69 for moving the machine bodily over the mine floor about the mine.

As a result o-f this invention, it will be noted that an. improved coal mining machine of the flexibly fed, room and pillar, floor cutter type is provided which is extremely compact in design and relatively light in. construction., thereby enabling manual guiding and transport of the machine. It will further be evident that an impro-ved coal mining machine of the hand-held and guided type is provided which, .due to its relative simplicity in design, may be manually Iguided during the transverse cutting opera-tion with facility, the operator, by the provision of the manual handle, readily controlling the angular position of the machine with respect to the coal face during the transverse cutting operation.

Further, by the provision o-f the supporting wheels. mounted on the manual guiding handle of the machine, the operator may readily manually elevate the machine onto the supporting wheels and by the use of the manual handle move the m-.achine bodily over the mine floor from one Working place to another'. These and other uses and advantages of the improved mining machine will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illus.- tration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms Without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as ne-w and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining machine, a machine frame adapted to rest upon and slide in, any direction over the mine oor, a kerf cutter projecting fro-m said frame, means for feeding the frame over the mine floor during the cutting operation, and means for elevating the frame off from the mine floor and for transporting the machine comprising a handle pivotally connected to said frame to swing vertically, and floor engaging wheels carried by said handle.

2. In a mining machine, a machine frame adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor, a kerf cutter projecting from said frame, flexible feeding means for moving the machine over the mine floor during the cutting operation, a manual grasping handle pivotally connected to said frame to swing vertically fo guiding the machine frame during its feeding movement, and floor engaging' wheels carried by said handle, said handle being swingable downwardly to bring said wheels into engagement with the mine floor and for elevating the frame from the oor onto said wheels.

3. In a mining machine, a machine frame adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor, a kerf cutter projecting from said frame, flexible feeding means for moving the machine over the mine floor during the cutting operation, a manual grasping handle pivotally connected to said frame to swing vertically or lthe machine frame during its feeding movement, floor engaging wheels carried by said handle, said handle being swingable downwardly to bring said wheels into engagement with the mine floor and for elevating the frame from the floor onto said wheels, and a lug on the frame engageable with said handle when said frame is in said, elevated position.

4. In a mining machine, a machine frame adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor, a kerf cutter projecting from said frame, means for feeding said frame over the mine oor, and a handle pivotally connected tcv said frame and having floor engaging wheels for elevating said frame off from the mine floor.

5. In a mining machine, a machine frame adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor, a kerf cutter projecting from said frame, means for feeding said frame over the mine floor, a handle pivotally connected to said frame and having floor engaging wheels for elevating said frame off from the mine floor, and stop means on said frame engageable with said handle when. said frame is in its elevated position.

6. In a mining machine, a machine frame adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor, a kerf cutter projecting from said frame, means for feeding the frame over the mine door during the cutting operation, and means for elevating the frame off from the mine iioor and for transporting the machine comprising a handle pivotally secured to said frame to swing vertically and floor engaging means. carried by said handle.

'7. In a mining machine, a machine frame adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine oor, a kerf cutter projecting from CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

' Patent No. 2,170,551. August 22, 1959.'

JOSEPH F. JOY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of -theabove numbered patent requiring 'correotionas follows: Page sec:-L ond column, line 2, lClaim 5, for the word or" read --for--g'and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of vthe case in the Patent Office.

signed and' sealed this 18th day f June, A. D( 19nd.

Henry Van Arsdale y `(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents 

